Letter from the Site Leader – Nawzer Parakh

Nawzer Parakh, St. Charles
Operations Site Leader

On behalf of the 2,000 people working at St. Charles Operations, I am pleased to present our 2006 Public Report. Through Dow’s 2015 Sustainability Goals, we are committed to strengthen relationships with the communities where we operate. This report stays true to that commitment by providing a site-wide look at our environmental, economic and social responsibility performance during the past year.

In 2006, continued high energy and raw materials costs again challenged many businesses, including Dow. These higher costs are evident to everyone in our community as we bring our personal vehicles to the gas pumps. But despite these continued tough economic times, there are great things happening at our facility. Here are a few examples:

• The U.S. Occupational, Safety and Health Administration has recognized St. Charles Operations as one of the safest workplaces in the entire nation with the designation of a “Super Star Among Stars” site. The award was based on the site exhibiting outstanding safety performance and achieving an injury rate that is 88% below the national average of all workplaces. We are continuing to make progress toward our ultimate goal – a vision of zero injuries.
  
  
• Our economic impact in the community continues to be strong, and is most evident through payroll, our local purchasing and tax payments, and the site’s contributions to the community. Additionally in 2006, Dow began operations of a new world class latex plant - a project that represents a more than $100 million investment. The site also recently announced the construction of a new amines plant and a couple of expansions of existing plants. This is great news for St. Charles Operations, and proof that we are a competitive site that continues to grow - thanks in great part to our integrated facility and talented employees.
  
  
• Our site is also upgrading our infrastructure through various improvement projects such as:
  • The new Dow Visitor Center building providing a public welcoming area outside of the secure area on site,
  • a Truck Staging Yard enhancing our logistical capability in a more secure environment,
  • and two new Steam Boilers that help operate our plants more efficiently and reliably.
    These infrastructure improvements are necessary and enhance the site’s future growth.
    
    
• And most importantly, employees at St. Charles Operations continue to demonstrate the true meaning of Dow’s Human Element campaign. Only one year after Hurricane Katrina, almost all previously displaced employees have made it back into their homes. Despite their personal challenges, they have continued to work together to improve the human condition through volunteering and community outreach. In 2006, employees generously gave more of their time and resources to many worthy causes, including community and educational outreach projects. One of those projects that employees support included the annual Door-to-Door event where employees visit some of the site’s near neighbors. This even earned Dow the Innovative Community Outreach Award from the Safety Council of Louisiana Capital Area, Other events and projects included United Way, lending a hand at Household Hazardous Materials Collection Days and LeBranche Wetland Watchers program events, and volunteering to instruct classes in the Process Technology program are just a few ways in which our employees are working to make a difference in our community.

In this 2006 Public Report you will find more detailed information regarding SCO’s economic and social contributions to our local community and the state. You’ll learn more about our commitment to employees and our investment in their well-being. And, perhaps most important, we will give you an extensive look at our site’s environment, health and safety performance.

Dow is committed to operating its facility safely and responsibly, and living up to its obligations to the community. This public report is presented as a report card on our performance. We hope you will see a strong, vibrant company that is a good employer, a responsible neighbor, and a conscientious supporter of the community for long-term, mutual growth.

Nawzer Parakh
Site Leader, St. Charles Operations